The Rise & Fall, and then Re-rise, of the "Mantique". Guy's Junk n' Antique Stuff!

Way back in the late 80's, well, I was a kid.  A kid that ended up spending a lot of time in her Gramma's Antique Shop, and at Flea Markets.  I think it was actually 1988/89 when I first heard the word "Mantique".  I thought someone was talking about a shabby mannequin stashed in the corner, but learned that it was actually used to describe anything that wasn't jewelry, a frilly petticoat, vaseline glass, or anything best displayed with a doily underneath it.  I thought nothing of it, because I was 9yrs old, and because I didn't care about the gender stereotype of an antique.  If it was cool, and I liked it, I was totally gonna mess with it while it was in my Gramma's shop.

 

In the 80's the rush for Antiques and anything primitive swept through Virginia like a devastating plague.  The locals would say "All the rich Northerns love them antiques, but man, they will nickel & dime ya".  It seemed with the increased price of silver (then crazy drop), and anything Barn, French, Victorian, or remotely Antique was bought up by Northern's on vacation, then taking up the coast to be sold at an auction or in a gallery.  As supply is driven by demand, most items that were Old, Shabby, Vintage that weren't Victorian, Colonial, whatever, were often left to rust away, or worse, thrown out in the trash.

...The antique craze died down....It would resurface for a couple years, and fade.  Of course, I was a teenager and then a 20-something-er, so I wasn't really paying attention.  I just did what I always did, buying things as I liked them when I was at the thrift shop or the flea market, with what little was left in the area.  Not caring if it was now associated with a Retro Pub, or if it belonged in a Vintage & Antique Cars museum.  The only time I saw Man-tiques outside of my own Junk was if I was in a Cracker Barrel or at Gettysburg, lol.



It seems with the rise of awesome shows like Pawn Stars and American Pickers (Love them Both), the Mantique is coming back.  Granted, Steam-Punk Victorian and Industrial Victorian incorporate a lot of masculinity, but both of these often combine a Shabby Chic, French, or Victorian Feminity to them (re-purposing a Man's watch into a Pendant, Adding French Legs to an Old Saw table).  Though the Man-Antique craze has started to get into full swing, educating yourself is important, otherwise, you've just got some great photography props or interesting Home Decor.

Despite being awesome, Vintage Typewriters are often hard to re-sell, unless you part them out.  Cast Iron items  and Vintage Scales are difficult too, unless you have something really unique.  Like a Cast-Iron Sprinkler, or a Vibrantly Colored Postal Scale (seen above).

These days, some of the things I once associated as Guy type Antiques are now Neutral, like Spy Stuff and Office Stuff, but alas, most of this stuff is only good for Decoration, Photography (Typewriters, Boxes, Scales) or re-purposing.  Old Spy Novels can stand out against old French School Primers, A Vintage Scale next to your Art Supplies or on an Office Desk can pop out as a Worn and Purposed Tool...Cowboy Boots next to my door work as a distraction from the floors we inherited from the previous tenants, and as something I can throw on in really Icky Weather when Bender has to go out!

Junk, Especially Men's Junk, has always been cool to me.  And now that I've got a stable Man in my life, I'm always trying to come up with unique items for him.  It makes me really happy that he shares some of my passion, and has his own (like some of the Retro Thermos Containers in my pics, or some of the great Vintage Tripods and Photography stuff he finds!).  Since I'm older, it's a little easier finding some Vintage Masculine items, but it does take some creativity, and willingness to "Pick" the unusual.

The other day Bender Oak and I were on a walk, and I found a totally awesome, terribly messed up 5 gallon can!  I love the retro Aqua paint job, and the Molecule symbol.  It used to hold Floor Cleaner, so it was a little odd to find, but I thought it would be cool.  I plan to either use it as a little waste basket for my office, or save it for my future "Blue Room" I want to create when we finally get our own place.

Lately, I have started getting a hold of stuff that is both purposeful, and makes us really happy.  My recent obsession?  This little antique Ticket Puncher (Hole Puncher) used on the Railways for Train rides!

We're fortunate enough to live in an area that isn't completely metropolized, yet, suburban enough that we don't have to drive 20 miles to hit up more than one Thrift Shop or Rummage sale.  It's just a bit out of the way from the usual Tourist Traps, so there's still quite a few Antiques and Unique Items out there.  The location of our established community actually generates some great finds, for Camping, Tools, and Guy Knick-Knacks.

As I learn more about what are the new "Must Haves" in the Vintage, Shabby, Cottage, and Antique World, I realize that tastes have changed, and for the better.  It's great to see that things I have always loved are starting to be cool again.  Later on this week, I'll be salvaging some old hardware outta some Old Wood from the original 1918 structures in this area, & trying to figure out what to do with this awesome utility/sewing cart my Boyfriend discovered at a Thrift Shop.  Though Mantiques involve more than just Rusty Metal, the Soul of both these items will live on, even in a Girlie French Cottage, or an Artist's Studio!

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PS: Feel Free to Check out some Guy-ish Stuff On Etsy too!